AgDay Daily Recap -March 28, 2013

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE INDUSTRY WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY THIS MORNING AS THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RELEASES A HOST OF KEY REPORTS THAT COULD SHAKE-UP THE MARKET.

SEED SUPPLY:

PLANTING IS UNDERWAY IN THE SOUTH. IN THE SOUTHEAST FIELDWORK IS DELAYED DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE, WHILE TEXAS IS REPORTING ABOUT HALF OF THE CORN PLANTED. BUT ALL OF IT TAKES SEED. REGIONAL REPORTER MICHELLE ROOK LOOKS AT THE STATUS OF SEED CORN SUPPLIES AND SOME OF THE NEW QUALITY ISSUES EMERGING OVER THE WINTER IN SOYBEAN SEED. WHEN THAT SEEDS HITS THE GROUND IT LOOKS LIKE PRODUCERS ARE WORKING TO PROTECT IT. LINDSAY CORPORATION SAYS ITS IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT REVENUES ARE UP 41 PERCENT HERE IN THE U.S. THEY SAY HIGHER COMMODITY PRICES, RECORD FARM INCOMES AND HISTORIC DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE DRIVING SALES. SOME LOCAL UTILITY COMPANIES SAY THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING UP WITH INSTALLATIONS. LINDSAY'S SECOND QUARTER REVENUES SET A NEW RECORD FOR THE COMPANY.

WHEAT QUOTA:

IN RELATED NOTE, THE USDA SAYS THERE WILL BE NO MARKETING QUOTA FOR THE 2014 WHEAT CROP. MARKETING QUOTAS GO BACK TO 1938 FARM LAW-- THAT REQUIRED THE AG SECRETARY TO SET GOALS OR LIMITS FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION FOR NEXT SEASON BY MID APRIL. USDA SAYS IT'S BEING PROACTIVE AND MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN CASE A NEW FARM BILL ISN'T PASSED BY CONGRESS THIS YEAR. THE CURRENT EXTENSION RUNS OUT IN SEPTEMBER.

CROP WATCH:

SOME PLANTING IS NOW ON DELAY WHILE SOME IS YET TO START. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS A LOOK AT FIELDWORK AROUND FARM COUNTRY IN THIS MORNING'S CROP WATCH. GOOD MORNING MIKE.

PLANNING FOR DROUGHT:

IN OUR BEEF TODAY REPORT, STATE AND USDA OFFICALS SAY ITS TIME TO START PLANNING FOR ANOTHER DRY YEAR IN CATTLE COUNTRY. THE LATEST LONG TERM FORECASTS AREN'T GIVING MUCH HOPE TO DROUGHT RECOVERY IN THE PLAINS STATES.

LONGHORN’S DNA:

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HAVE APPROPRIATELY BEEN STUDYING THE DNA OF LONGHORN CATTLE. NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS TEXAS LONGHORNS ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF CATTLE SHIPPED IN BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BACK IN 14-93. THE FINDINGS SHOW THE BREED ORIGINATED IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND INDIA.

DIESEL REFINERY:

NORTH DAKOTA BROKE GROUND ON A NEW DIESEL REFINERY. THE SITE IS ABOUT 2 MILES WEST OF DICKINSON. ONCE BUILT, ITS EXPECTED TO PROCESS 20-THOUSAND BARRELS OF BAKKEN CRUDE EVERY DAY--PRODUCING DIESEL FUEL AND OTHER PRODUCTS. THE PLANT SHOULD BE ONLINE BY LAT 2014--EMPLOYING ABOUT 100 PEOPLE.

ANALYSIS:

CATTLE PRICES HAVE BEEN MIXED LATELY. FUTURES WERE UP WEDNESDAY. CASH CATTLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED SELLING BETWEEN 125 AND 128. SUE MARTIN AND AL PELL RETURN NOW TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DESK FOR A LOOK AT CATTLE PRICES AND WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE MARKETS.

TORNADO RESEARCH:

IT'S A FAMILIAR SOUND THIS TIME OF YEAR AS LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS RUN DRILLS TO TEST THEIR TORNADO SIRENS. IF THE RIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS EXIST, TORNADOES CAN OCCUR ANY TIME OF THE YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO CREATE THEIR PATHS OF DESTRUCTION IN SPRING AND SUMMER. SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ARE STUDYING THE DEBRIS PATH IN HOPES OF CREATING BETTER SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE PUBLIC. DOCTOR KNOX SAYS MOST DEBRIS FELL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OF THE STORM'S TRACK. BUT THE ITEMS THAT TRAVELED THE FARTHEST WERE FOUND TO THE RIGHT OF THE PATH. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET NEW SCIENCE TO HELP KEEP US SAFE FROM TORNADOES.

VEGGIE SNACKING:

IN FOOD AND YOUR FAMILY, A FOOD GIANT SAYS MORE PEOPLE WANT VEGGIE SNACKS THESE DAYS.

EGG DONATION:

AND ITS NEARLY EASTER--A LOT OF EGGS BEING PREPARED FOR THIS WEEKEND. U.S. EGG FARMERS ARE DOING THEIR PART--DONATING ALMOST 9 MILLION FRESH EGGS TO FOOD PANTRY'S THIS MONTH. IT'S THEIR WAY TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY. THIS IS THE SIXTH YEAR THE UNITED EGG PRODUCERS ORGANIZATION HAS ORGANIZED THE EFFORT. SINCE 2008 THEY'VE GIVEN AWAY NEARLY 70 MILLION EGGS.

​span>

&nbsp​;&nbsp​;&nbsp​;

&​nbsp;&n​bsp;

CONTACT:We'd love to hear from you! Contact us at 800-792-4329. Or drop an email to inbox@agday.com. You can also check us out on Facebook.